Vehicle light warning system

ABSTRACT

A pair of indicator lamps provide warnings for a vehicle operator signifying either that the vehicle lamps should be turned on when illumination is needed or turned off upon opening of the vehicle door. The warning system does not affect the usual vehicle lighting system and operates off the vehicle power supply.

D United States Patent [151 3,662,334 Susslin May 9, 1972 54] VEHICLELIGHT WARNING SYSTEM 3.473.083 10/1969 Guida .315/130 x Inventor: RalphM- Susslin, 212 Frankfin Street, 2,878,462 3/1959 Tralh ..340/80XPaerson, 07524 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1 Filed= Nov-17,1969612,533 8/1926 France ..340/80 21 A l.N 877233 1 pp 0 PrimaryExaminer.|ohn W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Kenneth N. Leimer [52] US.Cl. ..340/52 D, 315/77 Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B.Jacobson [51] lnt.Cl ..B60q H00 [58] Field ofSearch ..340/52D [57]ABSTRACT A pair of indicator lamps provide warnings for a vehicle [56]References Cited operator signifying either that the vehicle lampsshould be U D S S PATENTS turned on when illumination is needed orturned off upon opening of the vehicle door. The warning system does notaf- 2,722,673 1 111955 Turner ..340/275 X feet the usual vehide lightingSystem and Operates ff h i 2,799,843 7/l957 Savino ....340/275 X clepower Supply 2,820,215 1/1958 Hughes ..340/54 3,I45,322 8/1964 Yazigi..340/52 D 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure IGNITION l2 SWITCH TURN 01v VEH/CLE L A MP5" as as Us /6 TURN OFF SWITCH 42 000R 1 1] SWITCH 2o (1 2gPATENTEUMY smz 3,662,334

IGNITION /2 SWITCH 30 r TURN ON ,6 VEHICLE LAMPS LIGHT TURN OFF sw/rch'Ralph M. .Suss/ih IN VI'IN'I IK.

VEHICLE LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM This invention relates to automotivevehicle lighting circuits and more particularly to a light sensitivewarning system for an automotive vehicle operator.

There are occasions when motorists forget to turn on the vehiclelighting system and thereby create a hazardous situation. More often,motorists forget to turn off the vehicle lighting system when departingfrom the vehicle so as to cause run down of the vehicle battery.Automatic light sensitive systems have been devised for turning on thevehicle lights which of course requires substantial modification of thelighting circuit. lt is, however, an important object of the presentinvention to avoid such modification of the vehicle lighting circuit andyet cope with the problem by providing a warning to the vehicle operatorwhenever the vehicle lights should be turned on as well as to warn thevehicle operator that the lights should be turned off when departingfrom the vehicle.

In accordance with the present invention, a photoresistive element isconnected to the vehicle battery or power supply through the ignitionswitch in order to control illumination of a first lamp indicatorthrough a relay thereby warning the vehicle operator that the vehiclelamps should be turned on. When the vehicle lamp switch is closed, asecond relay is energized to disable the first lamp indicator and asecond indicator lamp is conditioned for operation. Upon opening of avehicle door, the second indicator lamp is operatively conditioned, isturned on to warn the motorist that the vehicle lighting system shouldbe turned off prior to departing from the vehicle.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the warning system of thepresent invention generally denoted by reference numeral is associatedwith a vehicle lighting system energized from the vehicle power supplyincluding for example the vehicle battery 12, the output terminal ofwhich is connected to the vehicle lamps as exemplified by lamp 14 in thedrawing. A manually operated light switch 16 usually associated with thevehicle lighting system when closed completes an energizing circuit forthe vehicle lamps. In accordance with the present invention, however,the vehicle lamp circuit when completed by closing of the light switch16, is connected to ground in series with a relay coil 18 associatedwith a disabling relay 20.

A normally closed relay switch 22 is associated with the relay 20 so asto normally ground the stationary contact 24 and conductor 26 therebyestablishing a ground connection for a relay coil 28 associated with acontrol relay 30. The relay coil 28 is connected in series with a lightsensitive, photoresistive component 32 to the output terminal of thevehicle battery 12 upon closing of the vehicle ignition switch 34. Anormally closed relay switch 36 is associated with the relay 30 so as toelectrically connect the ignition switch 34 to a first indicator lamp 38thereby completing an indicator energizing circuit to ground throughconductor 26 and normally closed relay switch 22 in parallel with theseries connected photoresistive component 32 and relay coil 28.

A second indicator lamp 40 is connected to the output side of the lightswitch 16 so as to complete a circuit to ground upon closing of anormally opened exit controlling door switch 42 in parallel with therelay coil 18. The door switch 42 is suitably mounted so as to be closedupon opening of a vehicle door, preferably the door adjacent the vehicleoperator in order to cause illumination of the lamp 40 should thevehicle operator attempt to depart from the vehicle without opening thelight switch 16.

It will be apparent, that when the vehicle is in operation with theignition switch 34 closed, energizing current for the relay coil 28 willbe conducted through the light sensitive component 32 during daylighthours in view of the relatively low resistance thereof. Energi zation ofthe relay coil 28 will accordlngly open the relay switch 36 to preventenergization of the indicator lamp 38. When external illuminationreaches a low enough value, the resistance of the component 32 risesthereby reducing the current through the relay coil 28 below energizingvalue. The relay switch 36 will then close so as to complete anenergizing circuit through the indicator lamp 38. The indicator lamp 38may be mounted at a suitable location on the control dash of thevehicle, for example, and when energized illuminates appropriate indiciasignifying that the vehicle lamps should be turned on. When the vehicleoperator turns on the vehicle lamps by closing of the switch 16, therelay coil 18 in series with the vehicle lamps 14 will be energized tothereby open the normally closed relay switch 22. Opening of the relayswitch 22 interrupts the energizing circuits for the relay coil 28 andthe indicator lamp 38 so as to prevent operation of this warning circuitsection. Further, by closing of the light switch 16 energizing the relay20, the indicator lamp 40 is conditioned for operation. Accordingly, ifthe motorist fails to open the light switch 16 before departing from thevehicle, upon opening of the vehicle door the door switch 42 closes toenergize the indicator lamp 40 which thereby illuminates appropriateindicia on the control dash signifying that the vehicle lamps should beturned off. The vehicle lamps as well as the indicator lamp 40 areconnected to the vehicle battery 12 in by-pass relation to the ignitionswitch 34 since they are designed to operate while the vehicle is in anon-operating condition. An audible type of indicator such as a buzzeror a chime may optionally be added in parallel with the indicator lamp40 or alternatively replace the indicator lamp as the warning device.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a lighting system for a vehicle having a sourceof electrical energy, lamp means and switch means for selectivelyenergizing the lamp means from the source, a warning system comprisingat leasttwo separate indicator devices mounted internally of thevehicle, light sensitive means connected to the source for operating oneof the indicator devices, means responsive to closing of the switchmeans for disabling said one of the indicator devices, and exit controlmeans connected to the other of the indicator devices for activating thesame only when the switch means is closed, said disabling meanscomprising a relay coil connected to said source in series with thevehicle lamp means and the switch means and a normally closed relayswitch connected to said one of the indicator devices and opened inresponse to energization of the relay coil, said light sensitive meansincluding relay means connected to the normally closed relay switch ofthe disabling means for preventing operation of said one of theindicator devices and a photoresponsive element connecting the source tothe relay means for energization thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes a door, saidexit control means comprising a normally open switch closed by openingof the door and connected in series with the other of the indicatordevices to the switch means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said two separate indicatordevices are visually distinguishable lamps.

4. The combination of claim 1 including an ignition switch connectedbetween the source and the light sensitive means.

1. In combination with a lighting system for a vehicle having a sourceof electrical energy, lamp means and switch means for selectivelyenergizing the lamp means from the source, a warning system comprisingat least two separate indicator devices mounted internally of thevehicle, light sensitive means connected to the source for operating oneof the indicator devices, means responsive to closing of the switchmeans for disabling said one of the indicator devices, and exit controlmeans connected to the other of the indicator devices for activating theSame only when the switch means is closed, said disabling meanscomprising a relay coil connected to said source in series with thevehicle lamp means and the switch means and a normally closed relayswitch connected to said one of the indicator devices and opened inresponse to energization of the relay coil, said light sensitive meansincluding relay means connected to the normally closed relay switch ofthe disabling means for preventing operation of said one of theindicator devices and a photoresponsive element connecting the source tothe relay means for energization thereof.
 2. The combination of claim 1wherein said vehicle includes a door, said exit control means comprisinga normally open switch closed by opening of the door and connected inseries with the other of the indicator devices to the switch means. 3.The combination of claim 2 wherein said two separate indicator devicesare visually distinguishable lamps.
 4. The combination of claim 1including an ignition switch connected between the source and the lightsensitive means.